Thursday, August 15, 2013

When you receive a package in the mail, more often than not
in comes in a white padded envelope or brown box, right? If it’s been a month
since you placed the order, you might squint at the package in confusion and
wonder: Where is this from again? It
used to be that standard UPS boxes were the norm, customized packaging was rare,
and personal touches didn’t matter too much. In 2013, more and more small
businesses and big companies alike are creating stand-out, unique packaging for
orders shipped out to their customers. It doesn’t stop there—some businesses
are personalizing everything, in store and for shipping, from tissue paper to
receipts. So do you need to customize your packaging to stay in the game?

The answer is it certainly can’t hurt; it can only help you
to be memorable in the customer’s mind. The packaging doesn’t have to be
elaborate and sometimes less is more. Adding stylish details such as a label
with sketches that represent your products can do the trick. Sometimes bold
colors with the company logo are the best route to go, or depending on the type
of products you carry, you may want to add embellishments such as ribbons,
beads, or trinkets. The key is to choose elements that match your industry, use
for the product, and that fit your budget and brand.

Packaging sells and some customers, myself included, have
chosen one product over another product because of the packaging extras
included with the item. When it comes to packaging for mailing, the new concept
is for the customer to feel like they are receiving a gift (even if the product
is something practical such as a new doorknob). If you have the budget, you
might want to outsource this to a graphic design or marketing company who can
create a whole line of packaging ideas for you. For brainstorming, look on
sites such as Etsy and Pinterest to get you started. Make it happen!